The Search and Recovery of the Missing World War II Bomber Lady Be Good

On April 4, 1943, a B24 Liberator named Lady Be Good with 9 crewmen failed to return from a bombing mission at Naples, Italy. It was returning to the air base in Soluch, Libya. The plane was lost until 1958, when it was found in the desert. This is a compilation of nine 8mm films shot by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force of Operation Climax.

0:00 In Memory Of
0:09 Introduction
2:02 April 24, 1960, loading a C-130 Cargo Plane
3:44 Cargo shown including coffins
5:03 Wheelus Air Base Sign (in Tripoli)(gps 32.89500°N 13.28028°E)
5:24 April 26, 1960
7:24 C-130 landing in desert
8:43 Unloading empty coffins from C-130
9:51 C-130 taking off in desert
10:56 Soldiers setting up tents in desert
14:16 April 27, 1960
14:17 C-130 landing in desert
15:22 Unloading 2 Army Bell H-13 helicopters
17:00 Planning the search
24:10 Bell H-13s in flight
24:45 Dually stuck in the sand
25:44 Using a Lensatic Compass
26:13 Base camp
26:20 Delivering fuel in the dually
27:23 Fueling up the Army Bell H-13 helicopters
28:26 April 30, 1960
28:29 Bell H-13 taking off
28:55 Sand covered Base camp
29:16 Bell H-13s taking off
29:21 Soldiers waking up. They look like cocoons zipped up in the sleeping bags.
29:31 Washing up before breakfast
30:25 Breakfast
31:24 May 5, 1960 Discussing Operation Climax with Air Force passenger plane in background
31:49 Air Force passenger plane taking off
32:18 Views of the desert from H-13 helicopter
32:46 May 6, 1960 - Driving and walking on section of desert to test for stability and durability
33:38 April 27, 1960
33:39 H-13 helicopters with C-130 taxiing in background, then taking off
34:29 Cook checking supplies and making biscuits
35:16 Mounting rotor blades on H-13
36:35 H-13 low flight
36:44 Testing radio
37:35 Cranking generator
37:17 Operation Climax Libyan Desert Sign and thermometer
38:46 Fueling up a Jeep and checking oil
39:15 C-130 taxiing then unloading
40:25 C-130 landing
41:20 May 10, 1960 Planning the search
42:07 Bell H-13 helicopters begin searching
42:50 Views from helicopters
43:02 H-13 helicopter in flight
43:42 Searchers on the ground as seen from helicopter
44:34 May 11, 1960, Oil well in background
45:43 Lone rock formation in desert
46:33 Convoy of Jeeps and helicopters
46:45 May 13, 1930 Dually stuck again
47:18 Sleeping in the desert, getting sand out of clothing
47:50 May 15, 1960
47:52 Sealing remains of soldier in coffin, saluting him
49:58 May 14, 1960, search party meets others in desert. oil exploratory team?
51:03 Finding a body and a dog tag
51:35 sifting sand for evidence
52:02 Coving recovered body, then with American flag
52:57 the Debris field
53:12 Airplane leaving
54:12 Soldiers waving
54:19 May 8, 1960
54:20 Checking and loading supplies
54:50 Adjusting rotor on H-13 helicopter
55:09 H-13 helicopters taking off
55:30 base camp
55:39 tire tracks
56:19 Soldier's boot on pole
56:30 May 9, 1960, more sand
57:00 Searcher waving hands at helicopter
58:06 View from helicopter
59:26 View inside helicopter during flight
59:50 H-13 helicopter in flight
1:00:00 Discussing the boot on the pole
1:00:52 May 10, 1960, continuing the search
1:01:12 H-13 helicopter flying toward camera
1:01:56 May May 16, 1960
1:02:48 Base camp
1:03:02 The Waikiki (without water) E19 Quarters Deluxe
1:03:15 chow time
1:03:28 "Last Outpost Diner" sign
1:03:52 briefing
1:04:05 May 17, 1960
1:04:10 Driving in desert
1:04:33 Another body in coffin covered by American flag
1:04:55 First view of Lady Be Good
1:05:11 May 18, 1960, Lady Be Good Wreckage
1:05:30 Flight suit in sand, more wreckage
1:07:06 Debris field
1:08:24 May 19, 1960, radio operator
1:08:56 Scene showing height of sand dunes
1:09:20 Base camp
1:09:30 May 21, 1960
1:09:32 tearing down base camp
1:10:35 May 22, 1960
1:10:40 Sealing Coffins, draping flags, Salute
1:12:48 C-130 landing
1:12:55 Loading flag-draped coffins onto C-130
1:13:17 Dismantling base camp
1:13:42 loading H-13 helicopters onto C-130
1:14:12 Loading coffins onto C-130

[carmenfoote]

She was a gallant lady, and it was sad that she ended up in the desert like that. Even more sad that one body will never be returned, lost forever in the sand dunes of Libya. Thanks for the upload. Joe S

[rob]

Thank you for editing and sharing this powerful documentary footage with us, Mr. Dison. Quite possibly the most important thing I’ve watched this Memorial Day weekend.

[JDShellnutt]

What to heck, you were gonna make a full video on this, but nothing....

[timothyoconnor]

I actually red the book around 1988 when I was in the Navy. Excellent job covering this story!

[billness]

I read the book called No Way Out by Steven Whitby years ago and found it fascinating! His (and the USAF’s) conclusions about how they ended up where they did is compelling.
It’s cool to see the A model of the C-130 at work! I began my flight training on the B models (essentially A models with 4 bladed props) and left the service at the end of the E models’ retirements for the H’s.

[SierraThunder]

I first learned about the LBG, her crew, and their tragic story in 1969 when an older member of the modeling club that I belonged to built a VERY detailed diorama of the LBG as she sat when she was initially found by the BP petroleum search & survey team. His brother was stationed at Wheelus AFB when the Lady was first found & had managed to get copies of all of the photos they shot, plus the photos that his brother took himself when they flew out to the crash site in 1958.

This however, is the first time that I've ever seen the 8mm reel footage of one of the final expeditions out to the site. Almost immediately a passion rose in me to learn as much as I absolutely could about both the plane, it's crew, and the history of both. I have an original hardcover first edition of Dennis McClendon's excellently written book, plus old back issues of "Life", "Time", "National Geographic", etc. that covered the story.

I don't know why this one mystery latched on to me so tightly, but I never pass up an opportunity to pick up new information that I happen upon.

[Americal-vr]

That hammer the soldier is using to drive tent stakes with reminds me of the carnival hammer they used to in the Bell Ring back in the day

[vet]

In Addition, you can see parts of the lady in the AF Museum, and the remains are sitting in a vacant lot in Libya, currently.

[BarryHope-bjum]

The US Air Force Museum at Dayton, Ohio has parts from the Lady Be Good. Also at the museum there is a stained glass window from the chapel at that airbase.

[Republican-qx]

Wow. I have never heard about this. What inspired you to a story on this?

[shootfirst]

There was a spooky movie made about the ghosts of the Lady Be Good called Sole Survivor 1970

[mistervacation]

Very informative Sad but true story. I wish there was some more details

[brianmorger]

There was a movie from the 1970s that was eerily similar to the tragedy . It was called " Soul Survivor" and it haunted my dreams for years.

[lshvfun]

ANGEL FLIGHT
Darden Smith and Radney Foster Look this up: "Darden Smith performs "Angel Flight" on The Texas Music Scene"

Well, the cockpit's quiet and the stars are bright
Feels kinda like church in here tonight
It don't matter where we touch down
On the Angel Flight its sacred ground
I fly that plane called the Angel Flight
Gotta hero riding with us tonight
Between Heaven and earth you're never alone
On the Angel Flight
Come on brother I'm taking you home
Come on brother I'm taking you home
Come on brother I'm taking you home
Come on brother I'm taking you home

❤ Austin based singer/songwriter Darden Smith had struck a relationship with a commander in the Texas National Guard who shared the story of Red River 44 and the Angel Flight that brought their bodies home. Smith knew he must translate it into a song and, working with his friend Radney Foster, they composed the song in 30 minutes.

[gcatwyo]

As of a few years ago, the remains of the wreckage were in a police station parking lot in Tripoli. Any updates?

[briancooper]

The navigator caused this to happen. When they found his books and charts. Alot of doddles were found all over the pages.

[matthewrosa]

The Discovery Of The "LADY BE GOOD" Would Be The Inspiration For The "TWILIGHT ZONE" Episode "KING NINE WILL NOT RETURN" !

[Auggies]

Unless I missed it, the last I heard the plane was brought out of the desert but the Lybian government is holding on to it.

[briancooper]

I remember this film. The sound effect is annoying and wasn't part of original film.

[vet]

You need to read the book "lady be Good" by Dennis Mcclendon. DP Hayes was never called "Deep", it was DP, a nick name given by his family. How do i know this, I am related to the Hayes family.